Independent-voting mechanism.



G. H. OOUMPAUGH. I

INDEPENDENT VOTING MECHANISM. APPLICATION FILED MAR. 12, 1904. RENEWED APR. 20, 1911.

Patented Sept. 19,1911.

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0. H. OOUMPAUGH. INDEPENDENT VOTING MECHANISM.

APPLIOATION FILED MAR. 12, 1904. RENEWED APR. 20, 1911.

Patented Sept. 19, 1911.

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' Ihl llllllHllllllll COLUMBIA PmNoaRAPH CO WASHINGTON D c -G. H. OQUMPAUGH. INDEPENDENT VOTING MECHANISM. APPLICATION FILED 111111.12, 1904. RENEWED APR. 20, 1911.

1,003,645, 1 Patented Sept. 19, 1911.

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UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

CHARLES H. OGUMPAUGH, OF ROCHESTER, NEW YORK.

INDEPENDENT-VOTING MECHANISM.

Original application filed December 7, 1903, Serial No. 184,187.

1904, Serial No. 197,834. Renewed April 20, 1911. Serial No. 622,326.

T 0 all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, CHARLES H. OOUM- PAUGH, a resident of Rochester, in the county of Monroe and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Tmprovements in Independent-Voting liechanism; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it pertains to make and use the same.

The invention relates to independent or irregular vote mechanism, and has for its object to provide eflicient, convenient, certainly acting and economical devices for voting for unnominated candidates.

The invention consists in the construction hereinafter described and pointed out.

In the accompanying drawing, Figure 1 is a broken horizontal section of a machine showing the upper ends of paper rolls or spools; Fig. 2 is a broken section on line 22 of Fig. 1; Fig. 3 is a view of an end plate of a spool-supporting frame showing the situation of the irregular resetting bar after disengaging a pinion holding pawl; Fig. 4 is a perspective of an interlockingbar-indicator-cover-and-rack, a resetting bar being also indicated; Fig. 5 is a horizontal section of abutmentholding bars of the interlocking mechanism, interlocking bars being shown'in plan; Fig. 6 is an elevation of an interlocking and lockout mechanism, the abutment-holding bars being omitted; Fig. 7 is a broken vertical section showing a part of the means for actuating the resetting bars; Fig. 8 is a transverse section showing resetting bars and a part of the actuating mechanism; and Fig. 9 is a perspective of a paper spool diagrammatic in character showing means for connecting paper thereto. Fig. 10 illustrates the position of parts shown in Fig. 3 before the actuation of the irregular resetting bar.

The invention has been embodied in a machine such as described in my application #184,187 filed Dec. 7, 1903, of which application the present is a division.

Numeral 1 denotes the machine case and 2 its front plate having openings (5 to receive the keys or indicators 3 attached to plates 5 which normally cover the said openings. One of these covers is normally situated immediately in front of a platen 7 that supports paper against a pen or pencil Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Sept. 19, 1911.

Divided and this application filed March 12,

while the voter is inscribing the name of his candidate. This particular plate is provided with a rack 5 and is connected to an interlocking strap 17 having a thickened part 18 situated on the opposite side of bars 19, the parts being so disposed that a movement of the plate 5 suflicient to uncover the opening 6 to give access to the platen 7 draws the said part 18 between the bars 19. These bars are provided with abutments 20 so situated as to cooperate with the thickened ends 18 of other key straps 17 and effect an interlocking of the vote indicators. The straps 17 having the regular voting keys 3 are bent adjacent the bars 19 alternately in opposite directions, their thickened interlocking ends being denoted by 18. The irregular straps 17 have necessarily a longer stroke than the regular straps to provide for uncovering the openings 6 and unlike the regular straps have no angle at their interlocking ends, but are" so formed as to avoid contact with a lookout resetting bar 65. The straps 17 are situ ated at one side of a resetting bar 86 for the straps 17. r

55 and 56 denote paper-holding spools, paper being drawn from 56 and wound onto 55.

Either a regular indicator key 3 and strap 17 or an irregular key 3 and strap 17 can be moved but not both at the same time because of interlocking. As stated the irregu lar cover 5 is provided with a rack (see Figs. 1 and 4). hen a cover is moved to the right, the rack meshes with and moves a long pinion 11, without, however, moving pinion 52, which is held from movement by its pawl; the'reverse movement of the cover, rack and pinion 11 (which can be only caused by movement of the resetting bar 95), by means of pinion 52, idler 53 and pinion 54- turns a spool 55 and winds thereon a portion of a web of paper which web has one end attached to the spool 55 and the other to a spool 56. Between the two spools the paper passes across the platen arranged with its face in a plane parallel with, direct-1y behind, and close to the openings 6 which are exposed when the covers 5 are suitably moved. On a portion of pa per which passes over the platen adjacent an opening, the voter is allowed to write his choice of a candidate for any ofiice represented by an indicator. It will be noted that the cover 5 extends to the left of the opening (3 and when moved to the right will continue to substantially cover the opening until the rack has passed the pinion, so that the paper has ceased its movement by the time the cover has been moved sufficiently to permit the writing of a candidates name.

In the present instance there are two pairs of spools, one pair situated above the other, and each pair provided with a long pinion 41. Each of the' two long pinions cooperate with a pinion 52 to drive a spool pinion 5% by means of an intermediate gear or idler In order to reduce the cost of replenishing the paper, it is divided into two webs, one for the upper part of the machine, and the other for t e lower. Ech web of paper has two spools, one for the blank paper and the other for winding thereon the recorded votes. The axes of the two spools for the blank paper are coincident and the two spools for receiving the recorded votes also have their axes coincident. There are also two long pinions corresponding with the spools, and the axes of these are coincident. (See Fig.

There is usually but little irregular voting for the higher offices such as governor, lieutenant governor, etc., it being much greater for local offices, since candidates for such offices are usually personally known to the voter. Tn my present arrangement this latter class of otlices is represented by the lower part of the face plate of the machine, and by appropriate paper-holding spools so that the web-holding spool for local offices can be separately replenis ied while for the majority of elections the upper web-holding spool of paper will not need replenishmg.

Each of the paper rolls is rotatably supported by suitable trunnions in a frame comprising plates 57 and 58 joined. by bars 49 and platen 7. The shaft of pinion +ll. is journaled in the same plates and has on one end a pinion which through an in termediate gear iii} drives another pinion 54: fast on the paper spool or roll shaft 55 which is thereby adapted to wind the paper from roll The pinions 52 and 4st have a ratchet connection as indicated.

96 indicates a pawl pivoted at 97 and normally pressed by a spring; 98 to hold it engaged with the pinion 52 and prevent rotating the paper rolls with the effect to move fresh paper in front of the platen until the bar 95* is reset by the outgoing voter. 99 denotes a pawl. extension or loop whereby said pawl may be disengaged from the pinion 52 by means of the arm 100 carried by the bar 95*. This permits another voter to move the cover 5 and by means of the rack 5* move the paper rolls. When the cover is moved to uncover opening 6,

the pawl. 96, normally held engaged with pinion :32 by spring; 98, holds said pinion against movement until such time as the spring is overcome and the pawl disengagged. This is effected by the outgoing voter by means of the irregular resetting bar 95* and its connections. At such time the arm 100 fixed to said bar underruns a part 99 connected to the pawl and lifts it out of engagement with the pinion. The arm 1.00 in the instance illustrated has a suitable shoulder or bend that is moved against the pawl 99 to throw it out of engagement with the pinion. It will be understood that the long pinion 41-1 is returned by the rack 56 fixed to the cover and indicator without moving pinion the ratchet clutches indicated at 102 being; of suitable form, as indicated, to permit such return.

95* (see Fig. t) denotes a resetting bar movable by means of devices including a turnstile construction having an arm such as indicated at ll) in 7 which can be moved to rotate a short shaft having a gear 25. This gear by means of a enacting gear 26 rotates a shaft 24; opcratively connected by intermediate devices, not shown, with a shaft 77 which has fixed thereon a cam disk adapted to move a connecting rod 89, arm 9-l, link 95 and resetting bar 86 denotes a resettiiig bar for the regular and question vote indicators. It extends througl'i slots in the straps connected to said indicators and is operated by a turnstile or the like mediately rotating shaft 77 having a cam disk to actuate said bar by suitable intermediate mechanism.

denotes a resetting bar for otlicial lcck out devices and is operated from the "ame shaft 7? by appropriate comnctions. These latter resetting bars and other related mechanisms are set forth in my application 18%,187, filed Dec. 7, 1903, and need no further description herein.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is;

1. ln a voting machine, a regular indicater and interlockii'ig strap, and an irregular indicator and cover-plate having an interlocking strap positively ttached there-- to,'the two classes of straps interlocking one with the other and having two different lengths of travel at the interlocking; point.

2. In a voting machine. a face plate having an opening, an indicator, a cover for said opening and connected to the indicator, a rack bar attached to the indicator, a pinion engaging with the rack, and devices whereby the pinion when moved in one direction is automatically locked against return.

In a voting machine, a face plate having an opening, an indicator, a cover for said opening and connected to the indicator, a rack bar attached to the indicator, a pinion engaging with the rack, devices whereby the pinion when moved in one direction is automatically locked against return, and means to unlcck the pinion and return the plate and indicator.

4. In a voting machine, a face plate having an opening, an indicator, a cover for said opening and connected to the indicator, a rack bar attached to the indicator, a pinion engaging with the rack, devices whereby the pinion when moved in one direction is automatically locked against return, and means to unlock the pinion and return the plate and indicator, said means comprising a resetting bar.

5. In a voting machine, regular indicators, irregular indicators, a resetting bar for the regular indicators, a resetting bar for the irregular indicators, and means for actuating said bars by the outgoing voter, the movement of the irregular resetting bar being greater than that of the regular resetting bar.

6. In a voting machine, regular indicators each connected to an interlocking bar, and an irregular indicator connected to a bar interlocking with the regular bars, the irregular indicator and bar traveling oppositely to the regular to effect interlocking therewith.

7. In a voting machine, irregular vote indicators, a resetting bar, a plurality of pairs of spools, one of each pair being alined with one of another pair, connections between the indicators and spools including a pair of pinions for each pair of spools, and a clutch connection between each pair of pinions whereby one or both may be driven according as an indicator or the resetting bar is moved.

8. In a voting machine, an elongated pinion, a paper spool and connections between the two, including two ratchet gears in mesh, the movement of the pinion in one direction only turning the paper spool.

9. In a voting machine, a casing, an irregular vote-receiving mechanism including an elongated pinion, cover plates and a resetting bar for the cover plates, the bar in its movement passing between the pinion and the casing.

10. Ina voting machine, an irregular votereceiving mechanism containing a pinion, a plurality of cover-plates, and a rack bar attached to each plate and capable of engaging with the said pinion, but in its normal position disengaged therefrom.

11. In a voting machine, an irregular votereceiving mechanism containing a pinion, a plurality of cover-plates, a rack bar-attached to each plate and capable of engaging with the pinion but in both its normal and actuated position disengaged therefrom.

12. In a voting machine, a pinion, an irregular cover-plate having an interlocking strap attached thereto, a rack bar attached to the cover and engaging the pinion to move it in one direction, means for automatically locking the pinion when thus moved, and devices for unlocking the pinion and returning the cover plate.

13. In a voting machine having a face plate, means for casting a vote by writing, comprising an opening in the face plate, a platen adjacent the opening, mechanism for moving paper across the platen, a cover indicator for said opening, means for po-si tively moving the cover from the opening, and an interlocking bar continuously fixed to the cover, said interlocking bar being in line -with said cover and directly moved thereby.

14. In a voting machine having a face plate, means for casting a vote by writing, comprising an opening in the face plate, a platen adj accnt the opening, mechanism for moving paper across the platen, a cover indicator for said opening, means for positively moving the cover from the opening, an interlocking device fixed to the cover, said device being in line with the cover and directly reciprocated thereby, and a resetting device for the cover and interlocking device.

15. In a voting machine having a face plate, means for casting a vote by writing comprising an opening in the face plate, a platen adjacent the opening, mechanism for moving paper across the platen, a cover indicator for said opening, means for positively moving the cover from the opening, an interlocking device continuously fix-ed to the cover, said device being in line with the cover and directly reciprocated thereby, and a resetting device for the cover and interlocking device.

16. In a voting machine having a face plate, means for casting a vote by writing, comprising an opening in the face plate, a platen adjacent the opening, and mechanism for moving paper across the platen, said paper-moving mechanism being directly actuated by the indicator cover, and comprising a rack fixed to the cover and meshing with a pinion, said pinion also meshing with a pinion on a paper-roll spool.

17. In a voting machine having a face plate, means for casting a vote by writing comprising an opening in the face plate, a cover for said opening, a paper support, a platen adjacent the opening, mechanism directly and positively connecting the cover and paper support for moving paper across theplaten and including a driving device rigidly fixed to and directly movable with said cover, and a device to prevent return move ment of the mechanism.

18. In a voting machine having a face plate, means for Voting by Writing, comprising an opening in said face plate, a platen adjacent the opening, mechanism for moving paper across the platen, said mechanism comprising a paper-delivering spool and a paper-Winding spool, means for driving one of the spools comprising; a laey-operated cover for said opening, a pinion-driving device directly connected to said cover and turning a driving pinion during movement both forvard and backward, and a driven pinion operatively connected to said paper Winding spool to turn it in one direction.

19. In a Voting machine, the combination of a plurality of indicators, a movable paper support, a platen, and mechanism intermediate each indicator and the support, said mechanism con'iprising a pinion and a driving connection between said pinion and each indicator.

In testimony whereof, I have signed this specification in the presence of two subscribing Witnesses.

CHARLES H. OGUMPAUGH.

Witn esses A. M. ZIMMER, A. GREENWOOD.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. C. 

